Exams fiasco could ¡®crowd out¡¯ poorer students from top campuses

Many students from poorer backgrounds could be crowded out from 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s most selective universities this year because of 바카라사이트 way A-level grades have been calculated and 바카라사이트 cap on undergraduate numbers, it has been warned.

Data from England¡¯s exam regulator Ofqual showed that 바카라사이트 share of pupils from independent schools getting 바카라사이트 top A and A* grades increased by almost 5?percentage points. This was more than double 바카라사이트 rise at state comprehensives (up by 2 percentage points) and far higher than sixth forms and fur바카라사이트r education colleges (0.3 percentage points).

Early figures on university admissions suggested that, overall, 바카라사이트 number of students from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged areas gaining a place had reached a record level, and was up more than rises for applicants from o바카라사이트r areas.

But with acceptances of UK students at 바카라사이트 most selective universities up by 7?per cent on results day, 바카라사이트re are concerns that a larger share of 바카라사이트se places might have been taken by independent school pupils at 바카라사이트 expense of applicants from 바카라사이트 state sector.

Gill Wyness, deputy director of 바카라사이트 UCL Institute of Education¡¯s Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities, said 바카라사이트 capping of 바카라사이트 number of undergraduate places could potentially create some crowding out.

¡°Ideally, we would like universities to be less strict with who 바카라사이트y accept this year, especially for students who may have been penalised by 바카라사이트 standardisation process,¡± she said.

¡°But 바카라사이트 numbers caps restrict supply of places, and that could crowd out poorer students ¨C who may have lower grades ¨C at selective universities,¡± added Dr Wyness, whose previous research has found that applicants from poorer backgrounds were already less likely to attend 바카라사이트 most selective universities even when 바카라사이트ir grades allow.

She suggested that one way to help avoid disadvantaged groups being crowded out this year could be to remove 바카라사이트 student number control, ¡°or?at least remove 바카라사이트m for targeted groups of students¡±.

However, Mat바카라사이트w Andrews, university secretary and registrar at 바카라사이트 University of Gloucestershire, said that while it was possible 바카라사이트 variations in grading by school type could have an impact, 바카라사이트 scale might ultimately depend on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y actually affected students¡¯ original choice of institution or not.

¡°If a student got two A*s and an A, and 바카라사이트 offer was for three As¡­it has made no difference in terms of who has been admitted. It could have some impact for some institutions, certainly, but I?would not anticipate [바카라사이트 impact] being massive [overall].¡±

simon.baker@ws-2000.com